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Archive for the ‘News Items’ Category

The last few interest rate changes by the RBA since late 2011 and now in May 2012 has seen the banks move away from the RBA rate changes and go it alone and set their own rate changes, even to the point of lifting rates when there has been no rate change made by the RBA.

While the banks continually post multi Billion dollar profits they cry poor as costs to provide banking are now apparently higher now, even though we all seem to be paying larger amounts of fees to use their most basic services. (more…)

With the Government in talks to get the National Broadband Network (NBN) up and running, The Prime Minister Julia Gillard was today quoted in an article on news.com.au as saying to the Liberal National Party (LNP) to ‘not delay and cause extra days of higher prices and less choice, particularly for those Australians who live in our regions. Further on Senator Conroy is also quoted as saying ‘They (the LNP) are wilfully delaying millions of Australians from getting a fairer deal on broadband and telecommunications services’. The full article can be read on the news.com.au web site.

These comments add to the whole argument I have been having for a fairer deal for those people that are stuck on wireless broadband with no other ISP available and no fixed line connection possible.

Today Telstra launched a new set of plans that were expected to be for wireless connections. However instead of releasing a set of ‘wireless’ plans they have chosen to rename them to ‘Mobile Broadband’ in place of ‘Wireless Broadband’. I can only assume this has been done to distinguish what is a fixed connection and what is a mobile connection, which is actually a great idea.

However what they have not done is realise that many that used a wireless connection prior to these new plans, were using them as a home connection and not for mobile purposes. This now leaves those people with a gap of no plans that now suit them. These people are not able to get a fixed line connection but they do want a fixed home connection and not a mobile connection, so Mobile Broadband is also not suitable for them. So what will Telstra do now for that group of users? I fear nothing as they refuse to consider that many users of the previous wireless broadband used it for a home connection and not for mobile purposes.

I came across an interesting news article this morning on news.com.au that was titled ‘Balaclavas welcome at Parliament House‘. The articles contents basically highlighted the equality issues in relation to the wearing of head wear such as hats and burqas and how some were asked to remove some forms of head wear but others not. Then on questioning the appropriate officer they advised they had now advised all security staff to allow anyone with any head wear such as a balaclava entry without having to remove them. This was to ensure equality for everyone and also that there was no need to know the ‘identitiy’ of the person, unless they were suspicious of doing something wrong, which is fair enough, but did that apply to people wearing the burqa veil as well?

This news story highlights an issue I have had for a very long time and that is the wearing of any head wear that conceals a persons identity, and by this I mean all forms of head wear.

If you go to a bank, shopping centre and many other places in Australia you will often notice a sticker or sign on the wall or window saying that you must remove all head wear such as helmets, but this does not include the burqa veil as these can be worn inside these places without question, even though in most cases many are uncomfortable with them. Not because of who or what the person is or where they came from but the fact you cannot recognise the person behind the veil and it is quite normal to feel uneasy and not be sure what else is being concealed.

You may recall my previous post about how I feel that Telstra is discriminating against wireless users. In hindsight I went about that probably the wrong way.

What I would like to do now is offer a solution to the problem. This solution is for Telstra to implement a new Broadband delivery method titled Fixed Wireless.

What is very clear to me when I discuss wireless with any Telstra staff member via phone, email or in person is that in general Telstra labels all NextG users as being mobile users and are therefore charged as if a mobile user with overpriced NextG mobile services. However this is not always the case. (more…)

Today Telstra has released a raft of new plans for bundling your broadband, telephone and even your TV. You can also get a new Telstra T-Box and/or a T-hub which on looking at the plans are a welcome change for Telstra and Bigpond when it comes to value for service. What is so great also is the increased quota that assists families to enjoy the ever growing rich Internet environment at full speed with 100 and 200GB plans as part of the bundles.

I came across an article yesterday in our newspaper, The West Australian, the article is titled ‘State Axes Country Classes‘ and I could not believe what I was reading. So to make myself feel better and to be sure I can say I did my part to try and stop this I have written an email to the WA Education Minster Dr Elizabeth Constable (email: Minister.Constable@dpc.wa.gov.au) and provide a copy below of that email for others to hopefully read and also use to send something similar to the Minister.